Israel and the Palestinian Authority’s failure to treat wastewater in the West Bank has harmed the health and future water supply of all residents of Israel and the West Bank, human rights group B’Tselem said in a report published Sunday. ….

One Response to “Netanyahu under Pressure”

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s Defense Ministry said Monday it had approved construction of 50 new homes at a West Bank settlement as part of a plan for 1,450 housing units, an expansion that defies a U.S. call for a settlement freeze.

News of the planned building work emerged hours before Defense Minister Ehud Barak was due to travel to the United States for talks aimed at narrowing a rift with Washington over the settlement issue. …

Peace Now said some 2,500 settlement homes are currently under construction in the West Bank. Obama has pressed Israel to halt settlement activity as part of a bid to revive peace talks under which the Palestinians would gain statehood.

Some 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem, territory Israel captured in a 1967 war. Palestinians say settlements, deemed illegal by the World Court, could deny them a viable and contiguous state.

After U.S. pressure, Barkat to halt 70% of East Jerusalem demolitions.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat is set to announce a plan to freeze demolition orders on around 70 percent of unauthorized construction in the east of the city, Haaretz has learned. The municipality would also negotiate compensation terms with families evicted from the remaining 30 percent.

The plan represents a departure from earlier statements, in which Barkat spoke out against illegal construction by Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

According to various estimates, Jerusalem has some 20,000 unauthorized buildings, home to around 180,000 people. …